Gift Tags and Cards {Stash Buster Sunday}

Today I am sharing something that is a super easy way to use up some extra paper you have.

Recently I re-organized my gift wrap and now all my bags, tissue paper and boxes are stored neatly in a dresser.  Rolls of gift wrap and ribbon are stored in under the bed boxes.  I got the bright idea to make up some gift tags/cards to store with them for quick wrapping.

I can remember a time when I would fold a scrap of wrapping paper in two, sign the inside, and tape it to the box under the bow.  Shudder.  No more.  Guess what makes cute little cards and tags?  The Cricut--that's what!

I went to my stash and grabbed some patterns that had a print I thought would work in small scale and also colors that would work for my bags and paper.

Don't get discouraged if you don't have a Cricut (although, as someone who held out for many years before buying it, let me say you will never regret the investment).  You can simple cut a 3x3 three card and use a corner rounder, hole punch or decorative punch to make your own.  Now I have lots of options for quick gift wrapping!

See you soon!
Meredith

Pinwheel {Stash Buster Sunday}

I'm back this week, courtesy of my middle child, who asked me to make a pinwheel.  She ran up to me a few days ago screaming (as is her style) that she wanted to make a pinwheel.  Something I'm sure she had seen on a cartoon.

Hmm.  A pinwheel.  I knew what they looked like, but I was a little mixed up in my head about how to actually fold a paper into the shape of one.  So I did what any self respecting mom would do.  I googled it.

And it's really very simple.  You just need a square of paper--any pattern of your choice and a brad.  I've got plenty of both.

Here's what I did.  I folded a sheet of 12x12 paper corner to corner, both ways.  This makes an 'x' shape on the paper.  Then I cut along the lines from corner to center stopping a couple of inches from the actual center.

Fold in the right side of each cut to the center.  You'll need to use a piercing tool to make holes in each folded over tip for the brad and one in the center also.

If these instructions are clear as mud, just google it.  I'm sure someone can explain it easier.  :)  Here's the finished project...

And because I was trying to use up more paper....

These were 10x10 and 8x8 squares.  I wanted to see how they would look hanging up.  So I staged a photo shoot with LaLaLoopsey...

Loopsy rolled her eyes at me, but I thought they looked cute.  And how adorable would they be in a nursery?  Not that I'm planning that mind you!

Until next time!
Meredith

Bonus:  I also just found THIS link of some cute pinwheels as Christmas decor--so cute!

Clay Pot and Note {Stash Buster Sunday}

Whew!  I barely completed my weekly assignment...to myself...

 The girls had dance recital pictures and then my grocery day got moved and and and this week just didn't allow much time for craftiness.

But I put my nose to the grindstone and came up with this....

A simple little clay pot.  That you could use to store pens....

Or add a simple matching note...

And give to a friend as a gift.

Since this project was just under the wire, I had to take pictures at night in my kitchen.  That's why the bad lighting.  :)  I used the Art Philosophy cartridge for the scallop.  In the future I might not choose a striped print for this sort of project.  Makes it hard to line up the seams.

Hope you are enjoying a great weekend!
Meredith

Show me the bunny!! {Stash Buster Sunday}

Happy Easter!  I hope you are having a wonderful and blessed day of celebration with family and friends.

Last week my mom came across a Martha Stewart craft that she fell in love with.  She showed it to me on the computer and I thought eh, whatever...


"But isn't it adorable!?"  She kept at it until I decided to make one.  And guess what??  I fell in love with it too. So much that I couldn't stop making them...

I printed the template on the backs of the patterned paper from my stash, cut it out and inked the edges of some of them.  Then I poked the holes and assembled them easy as pie!

HERE is the link to the Martha Stewart page.  And THIS is the link to the bunny template.  Try making one yourself.  They are so cute with patterned paper.  And what another great way to work at that stash you have sitting there!

Happy Easter!
Meredith

Heart bookmark {Stash Buster Sunday}

My daughter loves to read!  And I love to encourage that habit!

As a first grader--nearly second grader now, gasp!--she has started reading chapter books.  I figured it was time to make some bookmarks for her....

This one was based on my beach card from the other day.  But instead of making 'beach' paper, this paper is printed to look like sand.  Also I used White Daisy pigment ink and a Sponge Dauber to add the 'foam' to the surf.  

The possibilities are endless.  You can make them any size.  I choose to use back-to-back CS for the base to make them more durable.  Then finish off the front.  You can add a tassel of ribbon or yarn to the top, but I usually keep embellishments flat since they are supposed to fit in a book.  :)

Happy April Fools!!
Meredith

Stash Buster Sunday: An Easter Card

I've always loved this paper, so with Easter just around the corner, I thought I would make a Spring card.

All the paper is from my stash.  I cut the egg shape with my Cricut and then made a fringe with the micro-tip scissors.

I had enough supplies to make eight!  Which I think is enough for my daughter's Girl Scout troop.  These cards are 4x4 which means you can make 4 cards from one sheet of 12x12 paper.

Click HERE to see what my Stash Buster Sunday is about.


Until next time,
Meredith

Stash Buster Sunday

I was recently re-organizing my scrapbook room and noticed that, like most scrapbookers, I have entirely too many supplies that I don't use.  Now usually on this blog I will be posting CTMH stuff.  It's just easier for me to work with CTMH because the entire line/colors all match!  But I decided that I really would like to use up all that 'other' paper that I've accumulated through the 10+ years I've been a papercrafter.  So I thought 'Why not devote one day a week to busting up that stash??'


Here's my first contribution to Stash Buster Sunday!

I started with this beautiful paper.  I have no idea how long I've had it.  It's one of those papers that stays in my stash because...it's just too pretty to cut up.  Please tell me you can relate to this ridiculousness.

I decided that I would make an envelope out of it.  I used a white 4x5.5 envelope as a template.  I simply pulled it open.

I moved the template around until I was covering an area of the patterned paper I wanted to be the envelope.  Then I traced around it using a pencil.  I cut it out using CTMH's Micro-Tip Scissors (Z534).  They really are the very best scissors, especially for fussy cuts.  Then I used the scoring blade in my papercutter to score the lines between the corners.  Be sure you place the paper pattern side down so that the envelope folds the right way!

For a finishing detail I used my well loved Sponge Dauber (Z726) dipped in Chocolate Ink (Z2111) to add some depth and distressing to the edges of the envelope.

After sponging the outside edges, I folded them in and sponged the scored edges.

To finish the envelope, I used Bonding Memories Broad Tip Glue Pen (1512) because it's what I had on hand, but the smaller tip would have probably worked easier (Z553).  Here's the finished envelope....

And to just use up the last of that paper, I cut one of the leftover roses out, inked the edges, and stuck it on a piece of cream cardstock from my stash cut to fit the envelope.  Now I have a cute little set!

This is a great way to make something useful out of that paper sitting in no man's land in your stash!

Until next time,
Meredith